Gay and lesbian couples began marrying
Wednesday in St. Louis after a state judge ruled the state's gay
marriage ban unconstitutional.

“The Court finds and declares that
any same sex couple that satisfies all the requirements for marriage
under Missouri law, other than being of different sexes, is legally
entitled to a marriage license,” St. Louis Circuit Judge Rex
Burlison wrote in his 15-page
ruling.

Burlison did not stay his ruling and
St. Louis Recorder of Deeds Jennifer Florida began issuing marriage
licenses to gay couples.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster
immediately appealed the ruling to the Missouri Supreme Court but did
not ask for a stay.

The city choreographed the challenge by
marrying four gay couples in June, forcing Koster to sue the city for
violating Missouri's 2004 voter-approved constitutional amendment
limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. The ruling is limited to
St. Louis.